Scooters: Reviews

Updated May 2009

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Mini city scooter

MSRP: $3,300 Learn More

If you plan to scoot around town at low speeds, experts say the Vespa LX 50's classic style and excellent build quality surpass its cheaper competitors. Vespa estimates the gas-powered LX 50 scooter can get 95 to 100 mpg,… expandalthough it delivers only 65 mpg in one independent test. In some jurisdictions, the Vespa LX 50 (like other 50 cc scooters) allows you to park on the sidewalk and forget about insurance and registration. However, the Vespa LX 50 can only reach 39 mph; it is the only Best Reviewed scooter that can't achieve highway speeds. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports tests the Vespa LX 50 scooter head-to-head against the Honda Ruckus 50 and Motorino Allegro 50, reviewing each one's ride, noise/vibration, seat comfort and riding posture, as well as performance.

TheScooterReview.com: This New Zealand-based website pits 13 50 cc gas scooters against each other in a head-to-head review.

Cycle World: This review includes both criticism and praise for the Vespa LX 50.

The Boston Globe: Although the Globe's Tania deLuzuriaga finds potholes to be problematic when on her Vespa LX 50, she likes the scooter's ability to cut through traffic and park anywhere.

Budget motor scooter

Kymco People 150

MSRP: $2,800 Learn More

The Kymco People 150 costs less than the Vespa LX 50 (MSRP: $3,300), and yet the Kymco scooter is much more powerful. It's still a mini scooter, though, promising nearly as good gas mileage as the smaller Vespa (55 mpg in… expandone real-world test). Experts say the People 150 scooter is a well-built machine with a classic profile, although Vespa beats it hands-down in the finish and style departments. The People 150 is freeway-legal, but with a top speed of only 57 mph, experts prefer a bigger scooter for freeway use. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports tests the Kymco People 150 alongside the Vespa LX 150 and Yamaha Vino 125, judging each scooter's comfort, ride and performance in this review.

Los Angeles Times: The Kymco People 150 offers an excellent suspension and spirited performance, says Susan Carpenter, the Los Angeles Times' motorcycle columnist.

JustGottaScoot.com: JustGottaScoot.com's David Harrington tests a used Kymco People 150 scooter with more than 3,100 miles on it.

Mother Nature Network: The Kymco People 150 is one of several scooters Mother Nature Network's Josh Dorfman picks for his column, "The Lazy Environmentalist." He praises the People 150's styling, speed, fuel economy and low price, but he doesn't explain how the scooters were tested.

Best scooter overall

Vespa GTS 250

MSRP: $6,000 Learn More

No scooter gets more nods from reviewers than the Vespa GTS 250. Its classic beauty and superb build quality impress even diehard motorcyclists. Its middle size makes it nimble enough for city streets and powerful enough… expandfor the freeway, although some testers say they still feel safer on a bigger scooter there. Vespa makes more expensive 250 cc scooters like the GTV 250 (MSRP: $6,900), but the nicely finished GTS 250 is the critics' favorite. The GTS 250 comes close to its estimated 65 to 70 mpg in real-world tests, and it can go up to 76 mph. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

The New York Times: Stuart F. Brown picks the Vespa GTS 250 scooter as one of three two-wheel commuter vehicles that are "fuel-efficient without being dull." He finds the Vespa scooter clean-burning, fast, agile and good for 60 mpg -- as well as being surprisingly popular with motorcyclists he meets on the road.

TheScooterReview.com: This is a very thorough and balanced review, based on road testing of the Vespa GTS 250 scooter in New Zealand.

ScooterMaxi.com: The Vespa GTS 250 scooter earns a 2008 Award of Distinction at this website.

Wired Magazine: The Vespa GTS 250 earns seven points out of 10in this test -- not the best, and not the worst among the four scooters tested.

Cycle World: The Vespa GTS 250 beats the now-discontinued Yamaha Morphous scooter in this review.

Los Angeles Times: Los Angeles Times motorcycle columnist Susan Carpenter likes the Vespa GTS 250 the best of all five mid-range scooters she tests in this 2006 review (some have since been discontinued). The Vespa scooter's classic styling hides a sophisticated drivetrain, but Carpenter finds the GTS 250 a bit slow for freeway use.

Motorcycle-USA.com: Reviewer Bart Madson has nothing but praise for the Vespa GTS 250.

Brawny scooter suitable for the highway

Honda Silver Wing

MSRP: $8,500 to $9,000 Learn More

It's expensive, but the Honda Silver Wing is the best scooter for freeway riding and long road trips -- and for motorcyclists who never thought they'd ride a scooter. The 582 cc Silver Wing cruises comfortably at speeds… expandup to 90 mph, with a smooth, well-cushioned ride. It also looks more like a motorcycle than most gas scooters. Reviewers appreciate Honda's excellent build quality and reliability, and the Silver Wing is one of the few scooters that offer antilock brakes. However, the Silver Wing is big and heavy, which drives fuel economy down to 46 mpg in one real-world test. Some testers find it too big to use as a city runabout. The Silver Wing scooter also offers little storage space for a long-hauler. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Wheels.ca: Wheels.ca's Andrew Meeson tests the Honda Silver Wing scooter against a Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider motorcycle on a three-day road trip.

Los Angeles Times: Los Angeles Times motorcycle columnist Susan Carpenter recommends the Honda Silver Wing as an all-around scooter, agile enough in city traffic and confident at high speeds.

TheScooterReview.com: TheScooterReview.com's Ketzal Sterling loves the Honda Silver Wing's engine/transmission combo and says it's a very comfortable cruiser.

About.com: About.com's guide to SUVs Jason Fogelson calls the Honda Silver Wing "one of the coolest scooters on the planet," and he finds very little to criticize while testing it with his wife as a passenger.

Wired Magazine: The Honda Silver Wing earns six points (out of 10) in this short review.

MotorcycleNews.com: Editors at this U.K.-based website rate the Honda Silver Wing scooter in several categories (the U.S. model number is different, but the specs are the same). The Silver Wing gets its best scores for its equipment and "cavernous" storage space, but its high price tag hurts its score in the value category.

Three-wheeled scooter for extra stability

Piaggio MP3 500

MSRP: $8,900 Learn More

Unlike other scooters, Piaggio's MP3 lineup has two wheels in front. They're closely spaced, with a special suspension that allows them to lean into turns like a single wheel. Testers say the MP3 feels more stable than a… expandtwo-wheeler, with better traction and braking. Piaggio offers two smaller, less expensive MP3 scooters, but reviewers recommend the big MP3 500 most often. It's a comfortable touring scooter like the Honda Silver Wing (MSRP: $8,500 to $9,000), but with a Darth Vader-esque matte-black exterior. This 493 cc scooter claims better gas mileage (55 to 57 mpg) than the Silver Wing displays, while still reaching a top speed of 89 mph. Like the Silver Wing, though, testers say the MP3 500 skimps on storage space. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

About.com: About.com's Basem Wasef awards the Piaggio MP3 500 scooter four stars (out of five). His full review includes a list of pros and cons.

San Francisco Chronicle: Arv Voss reviews both the Piaggio MP3 400 and 500 versions, going into great detail about their strengths and weaknesses.

Motorcycle.com: Motorcycle.com's Alfonse Palaima tests the Piaggio MP3 500 motor scooter and finds that the three-wheeled design makes for better braking and stability.

CNET: As a small rider, CNET's Carey Russ finds the MP3 500 scooter manageable in terms of weight and seat height.

ScooterMaxi.com: Robins includes the entire Piaggio Group lineup in his 2008 Awards of Distinction, including the Piaggio MP3 500.

Powerful electric scooter

Vectrix VX-1

MSRP: $10,495 Learn More

Reviewers are excited about the Vectrix VX-1, an all-electric scooter that the company says can go up to 55 miles on a single charge. Real-life tests say it's more like 25 to 40 miles, especially if you spend a lot of… expandtime at the VX-1 electric scooter's top speed of 62 mph. The VX-1 is far more powerful than other electric scooters, which usually can't go over 45 mph. Testers say it's very fun to drive. It's also very expensive, but eco-friendly tax breaks bring the price in line with the Honda Silver Wing (MSRP: $8,500 to $9,000). The Vectrix company has sold few VX-1s and has fallen on financial hard times. It has introduced two cheaper, less powerful Vectrix models in an effort to boost sales. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

The New York Times: The New York Times' Dexter Ford tests the Vectrix VX-1 electric scooter in rush-hour traffic on a Los Angeles freeway.

Los Angeles Times: Susan Carpenter tests the Vectrix VX-1 electric scooter for a day in San Francisco, much to the excitement of people she meets along the way.

San Francisco Chronicle: Arv Voss tests -- and likes -- the Vectrix VX-1.

Motorcycle.com: Reviewer Yossef Schvetz does an excellent job describing how the Vectrix VX-1 electric scooter performs, from a motorcycle enthusiast's point of view.

Cycle World: Cycle World's Chris Worden finds both pros and cons during his test of the Vectrix VX-1 electric scooter.

ScooterMaxi.com: ScooterMaxi's Jim Robins gives special recognition to the Vectrix VX-1, finding little to dislike about this electric scooter.

PopularMechanics.com: The Vectrix VX-1 is the only scooter on this Popular Mechanics top-10 list.